Carry-to-Roll Ratio
Also known as: carry to roll ratio, carry and roll, how far will my chip roll, chip roll out, rule of 12, fly to roll ratio, chipping carry and roll
The carry-to-roll ratio is how far a chip flies compared with how far it rolls. On a flat, medium-speed green, a common guide is about 1 to 2 for a pitching wedge, 1 to 3 for a 9-iron and 1 to 4 for an 8-iron. Pick a landing spot, then choose the club whose roll covers the rest of the distance.
Every club launches a chip at a different height and with a different spin. Lower-lofted clubs fly lower and roll farther. Higher-lofted clubs fly higher and stop sooner. Knowing roughly how each club behaves lets you choose a club for the shot instead of forcing one club to do everything.
A long-standing rule of thumb, often called the rule of 12, subtracts the club number from 12 to get the roll for each unit of carry. That gives a 9-iron about three parts roll to one part carry and an 8-iron about four. A pitching wedge counts as a 10, for about two parts roll. Golf.com published the same ratios for flat, medium-speed greens.
Treat any chart as a starting point. Uphill chips roll less and downhill chips roll more. Fast, firm greens add roll. Wet or slow greens take it away. The lie matters too. A ball from rough comes out with less spin and runs farther. Your own testing is the best guide. Chip each club to a fixed landing spot and pace off how far it rolls.
Tips by skill level
Place a towel one pace onto the green. Chip three balls each with a sand wedge, pitching wedge and 8-iron to land on the towel, and see where each set stops.
Write down your own ratios for flat, uphill and downhill chips on your home greens. Recheck them when the greens change speed with the season.
Example
She wants to land the ball four yards away, just onto the green, and roll it 16 more. A 1 to 4 ratio fits that shot. She picks her 8-iron. The ball carries to her spot and runs out close to the hole.
Why it matters
Landing the ball on a chosen spot and letting the club's roll do the rest makes chipping more repeatable. It replaces guesswork with a simple plan.
Common mistakes
- Using one wedge for every chip and changing the swing to vary the roll
- Ignoring slope and green speed when choosing a club
- Picking a landing spot in the fringe where the bounce is hard to judge
- Trusting a chart without testing it on your own greens
Frequently asked questions
How far will my chip roll with a 9-iron vs a sand wedge?
On a flat, medium-speed green, a 9-iron chip often rolls about three times as far as it carries. A sand wedge rolls much less. Slope, green speed and the lie all change these numbers.
What is the rule of 12 in chipping?
It is a rule of thumb for choosing a chipping club. Subtract the club number from 12 to get the roll for each unit of carry. A 9-iron gives about 3 to 1 and an 8-iron about 4 to 1. Test it on your own greens.
How do I pick a landing spot for a chip?
Choose a flat spot a pace or so onto the green. Then pick the club whose normal roll covers the rest of the distance to the hole.
Sources
Related terms
- Chip-and-RunA chip-and-run is a low, bouncing chip that gets on the green fast and rolls toward the hole. It is the safest choice when there is room between the ball and the green edge.
- ChippingChipping is a short shot played from just off the green. A small swing gets the ball rolling on the green quickly so it can run to the hole.
- Bump-and-RunA bump-and-run is a low chip that lands on the green just past the fringe and rolls to the hole like a putt. It uses the fringe and green to deliver the ball.
- Putting Green Speed (Stimpmeter)Green speed is measured with a Stimpmeter and expressed in feet, commonly 8 to 13. It is how far a ball released from a standard ramp rolls on a level part of the green. Faster greens amplify break and demand a lighter stroke.
- Texas WedgeA Texas wedge is a putt played from off the green, such as from the fringe, the apron or a firm fairway. Putt it when the grass between you and the green is short, smooth and dry. Many golfers find it easier to control than a chip, since a mishit putt rarely costs as much as a skulled or chunked chip.
- Distance ControlDistance control is adjusting how far the ball travels so it finishes near the target. In putting that means swing length and tempo; in the short game, carry distance.
Related guides & benchmarks
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